Material handling and conveying mechanism



A. R. WILLARD MATERIAL HANDLING AND CONYEYiNG MECHANISM Filed Jan. 11, 1959- '7 Sheets-Sheet l m. W ,F

Dec. 16, 1941.

A. R. WILLARD MATERIAL HANDLING AND CONVEYING MECHANISM ATTORNEY.

Dec. 16,1941. A. R. WILLARD 2,266,110

MATERIAL HANDLING AND CONVEYING MECHANISM I Filed Jan. 11, 1939 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 5a. :71 INVENTOR. fiuzeso fh ameo Dec. 16,1941. K

MATERIAL HANDLING'AND CONVEYING MECHANISM A; R. WILLARD, 2,266,110 I Filed Jan. 11, 1939 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEYS Dec. 16, 1941. A.'R. WILLARD MATERIAL HANDLING AND CONVEYING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 11, 1939 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. 194F250 1P. MAL/780 fi fl fi ATTORNEY5 '7 Sheets-Sheet s lrgw W in: HQ M M g H w} L INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Dec. 16, 1941. A. R. WILLARD MATERIAL HANDLING AND CONVEYING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 11, 1939 Dec. 16, 1941. AR. WILLARD MATERIAL HANDLING AND CONVEYING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 11, 1959 v 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR.

RED

HLFeEa E. Mu BY W W ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 16, 1941 51 om-Ten srAr ANncoNvsvm Alfred R.'Willard East ClevelandQbhiold ssignor v to Willard Storage Battery co'mpany, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation ofWestWir'ginia Application January 11, 1939 ,Seria l N6. 250,393 r '7 Claims. (o1. '198- 2l) This invention relates to material handling mechanism, and particularly to a so-called takeout mechanism, the purpose of which is to automatically remove froma conveyor or carrier rapidly traveling 'articles, especially relatively thin, flat articles, such as storage battery plates, which are generally conveyed rapidly and in close succession by a horizontal conveyor either directly from the pasting machine to the take-out mechanism or first through a heating and drying chamber positioned between'the pasting machine and thetake-out mechanism. In instances of this kind; it is generally desirable that-the articles be removed from horizontal position on the traveling carrier and deliveredto'receiving rails or to more slowly moving conveyor chains in substantially vertical position and in relatively closely spaced relation, the rails or other receiving means generally extending at right angles to the direction 'of -movement ofthe plates on the carrier.

The principal objects of the present invention are-to provide a take-out mechanism of thischaracter which does away with the necessity-of manual removal of the plates or articles fromthe carrier with-its numerous attendant disadvantages and which is an improvement over the take-out mechanisms which have been proposed heretofore in the way of greater simplicity, ease of timing, durability,ia'nd reliability.

the accompanying-sheets of drawings. in

of the take-out mechanism, the viewbeingtaken substantially'along theline 4 40f Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view'subs'taritially along the line 5--5 of Fig. I n

Fig. 6 is anje'n larged detail view of part of the take out mechanism, the parts being shown'on nnla d sc 7 Figg'l is a'transversesectional view substa rli tially along the line l -l of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8is-. a,top plan view on ,an enlar of a portionfof the takegout mechanism Fig. 9, isa detail sectional yiew also on an enlarged scaletaken substantially along the line;

9 9ofFig.2;

.7 Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view of the clutch on ged scale w an enlarged scale substantiallyalong; the line lll-lll of Fig-3; V N

Fig. 11. is a fragmentarysectional view through the intermittently.v driven- 'power 1 shaftshowing on an-enlarged scale adetail of one of the cams for imparting intermittent-movement. to v a part Fig. 13 is a fragmentary sectional viewshowin particularly certain blades- *for .removing-- paste from the battery plates-this view-showing the cleaner blade in a different position-relative to thewi-perblade=than-.in.Fig..12;

Fig. 14 isan enlargedfragmentary perspective view showingparticularly thenmechanism for-- pushing the plates along 'certain take-out rails; and 1 Fig. 15- isa fragmentary sectional: view show-ing difierent positions-of a ,latchassociated with oneof the pusher fingers of, Fig.;14.-.

Thearticles handled by'this machine are .con-

veyed to the take-out mechanism by a horizontal conveyor consisting of rtwozendless chains I5,the

upper .conveying portions of which are guided by horizontal guide rails, l6 shown in Figs.2,3,zand 9;.1The mechanism was designed particularly :for handling double storage battery plates H. which are ;indicated in;Figs.--2e and 9; the plates being supported on the: conveyor inhorizontal positionwith their edges only engaging-portionssof the, chains Iii-which project throughyslots-inthe chain supporting and guidingrails l6.-, i

The conveyor .Jigenerally extends -f10ll'lith8 pasting machinewhich "fills lead or lead :anti-j mony grids ,with; paste, and it 'ma-y convey ,the'

plates through, a suitable treating oven to cause the paste to becomepartiallyset and dried. The

liveredat a rapid. rate to.-the intermittently moving take-out mechanism whichis adaptable for high-=speedoperation. The rails lfiare arranged.

a suitable distance above thefioor and at the? delivery end: of the conveyor they are-supported by a frame designated generally by; the referencecharacterl8; an d most clearly. shown. in Figsz 1,-

2,. wand-t3.- ;-'Ihis -a frame supports all :the parts of.

thetake-out; mechanismas well ascthe driving" mechanism for :the conveyorchains l5 which; in this instance, pass over sprockets IQ-securedto adrive-"shaft 20' provided at its'outer end :with a sprocket 2| engaged-by a driving sprocket chain 2 2 WhiCh' is driven by a *motor" 2-3 which; together spaced therefrom for a purpose to be explained presently. The short secondary conveyor chains la travel about sprockets on a pair of horizontal shafts 24 and they are driven at the same speed as the chains by a sprocket chain 25 engaging.

a sprocket on one of the shafts 24 and a, sprocket on the drive shaft 20. To insure the delivery of chains 30 which are in line with and extend for a suitable distance forwardly from the receiving rails 29. The upper portions of the take-out chains 30 have supporting rails 3| carrying suitable sprockets 36a which are engaged by the chains 30, as best shown in Fig. 1. The inner sprockets 30b are adjacent to the outer ends of the receiving rails 29 but the rails 3| extend inwardly beyond the inner sprockets 30b and constitute a support for the receiving rails 29. The

"receiving rails 29 are short pieces of polished ;'steel' so that the plates can be readily slid along the plates from the chains l5 to the chains l5a 3 across the gap which separates them, I prefer to mounted on a shaft driven by gearing 21 from the shaft 20. The peripheral speed of these rollers 26 is preferably slightly greater than the linear speed of the conveyor chains l5 and 15a so that they will actually speed up the movement of the plates I! as they pass from the chains Hi to the chains l5a. This feature is provided as a precautionary measure against the possibility of the plates lagging as they leave the chains l5 and contact the chains 15a.

When the plates reach the end of their travel on the chains l5a they automatically set in operation, in a mannerto be explained, the intermittently moving take out mechanism which, in this instance, includes a take-out wheel 28 which is mounted on a shaft 28d at right angles to and slightly above the shafts and 24. This takeout wheel consists of two spaced apart star wheels with radial arms which rotate in vertical planes or at right angles to the path of travel of the plates on the plate conveyor. In this instance each of the star wheels has eight plate-engaging and delivery arms, and during each intermittent movement of the take-out mechanism the star wheels travel throughone-eighth of a revolution. However, the number of arms on the star wheels and the extent of their travel during each cycle are-not material to the invention although the construction and the extent of movement described are preferred.

As will be seen by reference to Fig. 2, the arms of the star wheels are at opposite ends of the short secondary conveyor chains l5a, and when a plate is delivered onto the secondary chains l5a, twoof the star wheel arms are at the horizontal position indicated at 28a in Fig. 6 just beneath the plate, and when the take-out mechanism is set in operation; these two arms engage and lift theplate off the chains 15a and during this cycle of operation they are moved from position 28a to the position indicated at 28b in Fig. 6. Thereupon the mechanism is'stopped and, as it stops, the next pair of arms is in position 28a ready to lift the next plate in the succeeding cycle.

The arms now supporting a plate H in position 28b in Fig. '6 are, in the next cycle, moved to the vertical position 280, and as they are moved to this position they deliver the plate'onto a pair of horizontal receiving rails 29 (Fig. 2) with the corner lugs of the plates engaging the rails 29 andwith the bodyportions' 'of' the plates suspended between the rails. Mechanism which will be described presently is provided to slide the plates along these rails onto "a pair of take-out these rails and onto the chains 30, as will be explained presently.

Whenthe plates are delivered onto the receiving rails 28 and then onto the take-out chains 30, the lugs Ila at opposite ends of the plates engage the rails and the chains with the body portions of the plates suspended in substantially vertical position. The chains 30 are moved forward a short distance at each cycle of the machine in a manner to be explained presently, with'the result that the plates are spaced a short distance apart on the chains (see Fig. 6), thus enabling the plates to be cooled before it is necessary for the operator to touch them. Preferably the lower edges of the plates drag along a lower bar or rail 32 (see Figs. 1 and. 6) which is held by adjustable supports 3211 (Fig. 1) at the desired height midway between the chains 30 and the rails 29 (Fig. 2) so that the bottomedges of the plates willbear on and drag thereover, with the result that the plates, while traveling along the rails 29and the chains 30; are maintained in a slightly inclined position as shown in Fig. 6. The purpose of this rail 32 is to prevent the plates from swinging as they are delivered onto the rails 29 and then onto the chains 30, thereby avoiding the likelihood of damage to the plates as would occur if they were permitted to's'wing into contact with each other.

The chains 30 and the rails 3! form a magazine that allows the plates coming from the take-out wheels to accumulate until there are 'sufl'icient to make a quantity large enough to be lifted out by the'operator who piles them onto a truck or platform.

I will next consider the power unit of which the motor 23 is a part and which actuates all the intermittently movi'ng parts of the take-out mechanism as Well as the constantly moving conveyor chains l5 together with the short secondary con-- veyor chains l5a. Referring particularly to-Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5, 10, and 11, it will be seen that the motor 23 through spur gearing 33 drives a shaft of reduction gearing in a gear'case 34 from which extends a constantly rotating main drive shaft 35 (see Fig. 4). Throughbevel gearing 36 this shaft 7 drives a conveyor drive shaft 3! having at its outer end a sprocket 31a which drives the chain 22 which, in turn, drives with a constant motion the conveyor chains l5 and Ho.

In line with the shaft 35 is an intermittently actuated shaft 38 which is adapted to be clutched to shaft 35 through the medium of a clutch 39 well known and are commonly employed on punch presses and the like. In Fig. 10 I have shown with some degree of detail a form of clutch which I have used very effectively. This includes a constantly rotating driving clutch member 39a and u an intermittently rotated driven clutch member 39b, the former being-secured to the constantly rotating shaft 35 and tliel'atterto'the intermit tently rotated shaft 34.; Theldrivingniember'iifla has a plurality or closely spacedradiel slots 39c while the driven member-19b carries" a pivoted dog 39!) which is spring-pressed-inwardly and, when permitted so to do, engages in one of the slots or notches lflcso' as to form the driving en} adapted to be momentarily vshiifteizlironi that position, so as to allow the clutch to engageby a link 400 connected to the plunger of a solenoid 40d shown in Fig. 1 which is adapted to be mo mentarily energized (in a manner to be explained) by each plate ll as-it reaches the end of its movement on the auxiliary or secondary conveyor chains lia. 7

When the solenoid is energized, it retracts cam 40 allowing the dog 39:1; to drop into one of the slots 390 of the driving" clutch member 39a, and when the driven clutch member'39b has made one revolution, the clutch is disengaged by reason of the fact that the cam40 earns the dog '39dfrom the slot 390 of the driving clutch member 390, the solenoid meanwhile having been deenergized. The intermittently driven shaft 38 is preferably provided with a suitable brake, indicated at M in Figs. 1 and 4, to prevent the driven clutch member from overrunning. As here shown, the brake is of the wheel and band type, but other types of brakes, such as one of the wellknown disk type,may be employed. 1 7

During each intermittent revolution of the shaft 38 a'cycle of operations or seriesof intermittent movements is imparted to portions of the take-out mechanism. -Toaccomplish this the shaft 38 is provided with three cams 42, 43, and 44 which are generally similar'to the cam illustrated in Fig. 11, andthey; are capable of adjustment relative to each other so as to 'time the operations performed thereby The peripheries oi the cams are engaged by rollers 45 which are carried by substantiallyhorizontally disposed levers 46, 41, and 48 which are normally biased downward with the corresponding rollers engaging the peripheries of thecams-by -coilsprings 49, see Figs. '3, 4, and 11. r

In the sequenced-operations performed bythesecams it is important that the plate I I which is deposited on therails 29-whenthe star-wheel arms reach the position 280 of Fig. 6 bepushed forwardly off the rails onto theohains 30 or at least that this movement be initiatedbefore the star wheels are given their increment ,of movement so as to prevent injury to the plate on the rails 29 by the arms as they, swing downwardly from position 280. Therefore, :I so time-the actions of the cams that the particular .cam which is. instrumental in accomplishing thisresult functions first in the sequence of operations' The cam used for this purpose is the cam 42 which act-uates the lever 46. The outer or rear end of lever 46 is connected by a link 50, seeparticularly Fig. 1, to an arm 50:; on a rock shaft journaled on a suitable part of the frame I 8. This rock shaft, which. extends horizontally crosswise of the machine below and slightly forheads 54which slide on horizontal rails 55 which are supported in horizontal position by the frame l8 just outside the inner extensions of the chain rails 3i and outside the rails 29 on which the plates H are deposited-by the star wheel and from which they are slid forwardly onto the takeout chains 30. Each of these crossheads carries an upper pivoted pusher finger 56 (see Figs. 1, 2;

and 7)- which extends inwardly and is adapted to engage the lug Ha at one of the upper corners of the plate and with a lower pivoted pusher finger 51 which extends inwardly and is adapted to engage one of the lower. corners of the plate. Thus to slide the plate forwardly ofi therails 29 onto the take-out chains 30, the plate standing on the rails is engaged and pushed forwardly by the four pusher fingers which en gage the plate adjacent to'its four corners, as shown in Figs. 3 and 14.

These four pusher fingers are pivoted to swing on horizontal axes so that when the crossheads and pusher fingers are returned they may pass by the upper corner lugs and the'lowercorner's of the next succeeding plate which, meanwhile, has been brought to position 280. I prefer'that the upper pusher fingers 56' be positivelyelevated so as to clear the corner lugs'of theplate in position 280 as the crossheads are returned to their rearmost p0Sitl01lS."FOI" this "purpose I utilize cams 58' (see particularly Figs. 6 and 14)- which are in the'form of strips adjustably secured to the inner' or"rear extensions of the rails 3|, these "strips extending lengthwise of and just at the outerside of the'rails, as indicated inFig'. 14. These cams, which have substantially horizontal rear portions and" tapered forward por'-' tions, are engaged by latches 56a which are pivoted to the rear sides of the fingers 56; as shown in Figs. 14 and 15. They are free to swing rearwardly as shown by the dotted line position of the latch'in Fig. 15 and they swing in'this manner when the crossheads and pusher fingers are mov-' ing forwardly; at which time the" latches ride freely over the top surfaces'of the cams, but on the returnmovement of thecrossheads and pusher fingers the latches come up against shoulders of the pusher fingers and become in effect locked to the fingers, with the result that on the're turn movement as the latches :ride up on the'elevated'portions of the cams 58 they lift the fingers 56 so as to clear the corner lugs of the plate H. When the crossheads reach their rearmost position, the latches drop-off the rear ends of the cams 58*to'the positions shown in Figs, 14 and 15- and allow the pusherrfingersr56 todrop down behind the corner lugs vofthe plate so that, on the next forward stroke of the crossheads, the pusher fingers are effective to move the plate I! along the rails 29 onto thetake-out chains.v

No special cams are provided to lower the fingers 5'! on thereturn stroke .of thecrosshead. They are, however, cammed downwardly on the return stroke by engaging the lower-portion of the plate I! now in position 280- and then the inner endsof the fingers snap upwardly behind the plate ready for the next ejection operation; The upper fingers 56 are gravity-actuated to'pla'te-engaging position while the lower fingers 51 are spring-actuated upwardly behind the plate, one of the springs 51a for this purpose being shown in Figs. '7 and 14. I V l The take-outchains 30 are given a, short fornected by a link59 to-an arm 5911 (Fig. 1;) secured to arock shaft'fifl (Figs;1-and'-3):supported on a suitable part of the frame'|8.r Secured to one end of this rock shaft is an arm 60a connected by'a link 6| (Fig. 1) to an arm BZ'carrying apawl- 63- (see Fig. which is adapted to actuatea ratchet 64 fixed {to acrossshaft .65 mounted-in the frame 18 and-havingga pairxof sprockets 66 engaging the chains 30. It is immaterial at just what point in the cycle of operations this part of the mechanism fUDCtiOIlSylt being essential only that the chains 30 be given a step-by-step forward movement or one increment during each. cycle so that the plates' l1 will be spaced thereon:

which carries a .pawl '69 which-engages "a ratchet 'HJ fixed to the shaft which 'supports the takeout wheel (see Fig.6). l

The freeing of the edges of the plates-of excess paste is also an important function of the machine, and as one "element of the paste"removing mechanism is intermittently operated iand' functions in timed'relation with the other inter-i mittently movable elements heretofore described, this mechanism will be explained atithispoint:

The plates pass through the pasting machine in end-to-end relation in the same: manner that they are positioned on the conveyor chains leading to the take-out mechanism; 'and,= in consequence, the leading edgeof each-plate generally carries the major portion ofthe excess paste To remove adhering'to the'edges of the plates. this I provide a wiperblade H (see particularly- Figs. 2, 8 and 12) which is-fiexible andwhich";

together with the blades "associated with it; is made of non-corrosive metal. This wiper blade is positioned in' substantially a horizontal'plane' just above the plate I1 when it comes to a" stop on the secondary conveyor chains la-so that as the arms of the take-outwheel swing the plate ll upwardly the forward edge portion off the wiper blade II will engage the forward edge of the plate lT-an'd wipe the paste'fr'oi'n it.

Asthe pastewould' ten'd'to a nea-ton the wiper blade, I provide 'bene'ath the lattera reciprocating cleaner blade 12 whicl'i'durifig 'eachbycle of the machine is projected forwardly across' the lower surface of the forward portion of the blade 1| so as toscr'ap'e the paste from -its forward edge after each wiping operation by the blade Il. This cleaner blade 12 is projected forwardly from the position shown in Fig. 12 tothe position shown in Fig. 13 to effect the cleaning operation and is then retracted again to the position shown in Fig. 12, and as it is retracted the paste is' wiped from it by a stationary cleaner blade 12a which is located beneath it and constantly engages its lower surface. The stationary blades H and 12a are mounted upon a support l3, see Figs. 8 and 12, which is adjustably' secured to a supporting plate 14 in turn adjustably mounted upon themain frame I8L To reciprocate the cleaner blade 12, I provide ward movement during=each cycle ofoperations.- by the cam43 whose associated lever 41 'is-con'-.-

nectedby a link 11 to therear portion of the cleaner ,iblade '12: -The ;bell crank is supported-- on--.an extension. of the'supporting; member 13' which "carries thetwostationary blades '1 and 12a. w:

With-thisumechanism;when -the arm :68 is: swung downwardly, :see Fig.6, so as to. cause its pawl 69 to :turn the-=ratchet 'lflfiandtherefore the take-out wheel,-the cleaner blade 12 is projected forwardly 'beyon'd'the' forward edge of the wiper blade |l.-i Asthe plated] is swung P- wardly, the forward edge portion of the'blade .I I wipes the paste from the edge of-.the --plate,:as pointed outabove; Onrthereturn' movement of the arm 68, the blade IL-and the mechanism for actuatingit are retracted by a spring 16a (Fig. 8) one endof which is connected'to the .bell crank 16 and the other to a stationary points 'With'this mechanism the forward edges :ofthe wiper blade H and of thecleaner blade 12 are fr'eed of paste. I'prefe'r also to wipe -the paste from" the for-' ward edge of -theforwardlug Ila of the plate I1, and for this purpose I provide 'a'. stationary flexible wiper blade 18 whoseforward e'dge wipes the'paste from the edge of 'thelug I la. whenthe plate. H is swung upwardlyi The I stationary: wiper blade 18 is mountedon an arm 18a carried by an arm projecting from the supporting mem-i ber 13. Obviously, when the supporting member 13 is adjusted, it 'adjus'ts thepositions of the: blades H, 12, and 'llaand of the bell crank- 16'} as well as the position of the wiper blade ll' It might be here stated that the-uprightedg'es of the plates ll'are also cleared of exces's 'iiaste as they are moved-"along the i take-up rails by contacting with flexiblestationary wiper bl'ades' 19 (see Figs. 1; *3,"and -6) suitably sup ort d o the rear portions of the rails -31 -"I-'lie arms'of the 'take-out' wheel arefreedof paste which tends to cling thereto by' being cau'sed to 'swing between wipers'rn -bil'1'sh'es "80 (see particularly} Fig. 2) suitablis'uppdrted-on-the frame ofthe machine. Additionally? if desired) the chains may be cleared of 'paste' "byf having the lowerruns thereof pass overpaste removing brushes allashownin Figs/3 and 5."-

Thus it will-be s'e'en'tliett, during each cycle of the take-out mechanism,orf{thefenergization ofthe solenoid the plat'e on'th'-take-outrailsfis pushed forward; the take o'ut wheel; is rotated orle-eighth of a 'revolution; the take-out chains are actuated, and';the--cleanerblade 12 is re ciprocated, allasfexplained above.

These operations are performed quickly and more or less simultaneouslm'it' beingessential only that the pusher fingers start quickly enough to prevent the downwardlyswingir'l'giarms of the take-out wheel from striking the plate on the take-entrails. ,That' the series or operations" oc-f curs' quickly'will be readilyfapbreciatedlwheri; consideration is given'to thfact that a machine constructed in accordance .with this applicationf functions very effectively with the plates being conveyed at'the rate of sixty oneor'nioreplates per-minute. and withfthe moving platesonfthe conveyor spaced generallyi3 'f, to 4' "apartf How'- ever,'a' higher speed of oprationmay be at tained. As a matter "of fact; "the parts of the take-out mechanism are timed and operated at a speed such as to accommodate seventy-one plates per minute. This speed of the take-out mechanism is maintained even though less than seventy-one plates per minute are delivered by the conveyor chains l and l5a..-

The energization of the solenoid and the initiation of the cycle of operations are controlled by the plates themselves, as already stated. To accomplish this I provide at a suitable distance in front of the secondary conveyor chains I5a acontact finger 8| (see Figs.;2, 8 and 12) mount- .ed' upon an inwardly extending horizontal arm 8la pivoted to turn on a vertical stud 82 journaled in a switch box 83 containing a switch 84 of standard construction. The finger 8| is engaged by the forward edge of the plate I! in the manner indicated in Fig. 8, and, in so doing, the plate pushes the finger rearwardly and swings the arm Bla until it engages an adjustable stop 85 carried by an arm 86 extending inwardly from the switch box 83. The engagement of the arm 8la with the stop 85 stops the movementof the plate I! on the secondary conveyor chains |5 a and the swinging movement H .thus imparted to the arm 8 la actuates the switch .84 by moving a switch actuating member 81 awayfrom a cooperating actuating member of the switch 84, the actuating member 8'! being carriedby an arm 88 secured to the upper end:

peated.

The switch box 83 and the timing mechanism associated with it, including thearm 81a and the arm 85 carrying the adjustable stop. 85, are

carriedby an adjustable member 83a secured to the adjustable support 14, see particularly Fig. 8.

Inasmuch as the plates l'i travel at a high speed on the conveyor chains l5 and l5a, it is desirable that the speed of the plates be checked somewhat just before the plates engage the finger 8|. I accomplish this by causing the side edges of the plates just before they reach the end of their travel and just before they contact with the finger 8l' to frictionally engage brake shoes 90 which are preferably formed from flexible metal. Only the forward portions of the side edges of the plates engage these brake shoes, as clearly shown in Fig. 8. In this manner the movement of the plates is slowed down sufiiciently that they engage the finger Bl while traveling at such speed that there is no danger of an undesirable blow or shock being imparted by the plates to the timing or solenoid controlling mechanism. The brake shoes 90 are in this instance carried by the arms 9| of a fork which is attached to a supporting member 92 adjustably secured to the support 14.

If the plates H are in good condition, i. e., lie fiat upon the conveyor, the machine functions continuously as above explained. However,

occasionally plates are fed along the conveyor in such shape that they cannot be handled by the take-out wheel, resulting in the stopping of the plate at the entry to the wheel. Without some provision for avoiding congestion and piling up of the plates, a considerable number of the plates would be spoiled and therefore scrapped I unless anoperator were constantly in attendance to stop the machine should this occur. To avoid the necessity of this and at the sametime to, avoid the likelihood of spoilage of the plates, aso-called toucher bar 93 is mounted above the rails just in advance of the take-out wheel and with its lower end slightly above the plates as,

nism by the chains [5, as shown in Fig. 9. ,This

they are conveyed toward the take-out mechatoucher bar is carried by an arm 94 pivoted at on the frame of the machine (see Figs. Zand 9) and it carries a contactor 96 which engages a corresponding contactor of a standard form of switch 91 which also is mounted on the frame ofthe machine alongside the plate conveyor. If two plates pile up at this point, the toucher bar .is elevated sufficiently to actuate the: switch 91 which controls the motor circuit and instantly Thus is reduced to a minimum.

Occasionally it is desired to run through the machine quantities'of plates of differentlengths.

Provision is made in the machine disclosed here- .in for taking. care of. a situation of this kind.

When plates of a different length than those for which the machine .is set are 'to. be run through, the position of the contact mechanism,

- the plate. retarding means, and the wiper mechanism at the end of the machine where the travel .of. the plates is stopped on thesecondary conveyor chains is changed. These mechanisms can be adjusted by loosening a series of set-screws which secure the support 14 to the frame l8 and applying a crank to the end of an adjusting shaft 98 (Figs. 2 and 12). Since the plates are supported by their corner lugs on the take-out rails 29 and on the take-out chains 30, it is necessary also that-the distance'between these rails and between the take-out 'chains be adjusted. This can be readily done by a crank99 which is adapted to be applied to a shaft Hill which turns an adjusting screw Illl and is connected by bevel gearing and a shaft I02 (see Fig. 2) to a second adjusting screw I83. Of

course, the contact mechanism, i. e., the mechanism for controlling intermittently the energization of the solenoid, can be independently adjusted by adjusting the supporting member 83a on the support 14. The same is true of the wiper and cleaner blades ll, 12, 12a, and 18 and of the brake shoes since the supports 13 and 92 carrying these parts can be independently adjusted.

It is believed that the operation of. the various parts of the machine will be understood from the foregoing description without a further connected description of the mode of operation and sequence of operations. While I have shown the preferred construction, I do not desire to be conconveyor and handled by the take-out mechanism for many features of the machine constituting the subject matter of the invention are applicable to the conveying and handling of articles otherthan storage battery plates.

Having thus described my inventiornI claim; 1. In combination, a conveyor for'conveying flat articles, stationary take out rails, a take-Ont conveyora'djacent to' s'aid'rails', a take-out memher for delivering articles'fr'om the first named conveyor to the rails, a pusher for sliding the articles along the rails onto the take-out conveyor, 'powermeans including a normally disengaged veyor to the rails with the lugs of the articles resting on the railsand' with the body portions of the articles suspended between the rails, means for moving the articles along the rails, and means controlled by the movement of the articles along said conveyor for intermittently actuating the take-out memberand said moving means.

3. In combination, a conveyor for conveying fiat articles having lugs onitwo opposite edges thereof, stationary take-out railsya take-out member for delivering articles from the conveyor to the rails with the lugs of the articles resting on the rails and with the body portions of the articles suspended between the rails,vreciprocatory means .formoving the articles along the rails, and means controlled by the movementv of the articles along said conveyor for intermittently actuating the take-out member and said reciprocatory moving means.

4. In combination, a conveyor for conveying fiat articles having lugs on twoxopposite edges thereof, stationary. take-out rails,. a take-out member for delivering articles from the conveyor to the rails with the lugsof the articles resting on the rails and with the body portions of the articles suspended between the rails, means for moving the articles along the-rails, and means take-out membei and said I moving means having parts which engagethe controlled'bythe movemm'cr the articles along saidconveyor for: intermittently abt ati ifgftiie moving means, said lugs of the ar't'icles'and also the lower'portions of the articles as the latter are suspended on the rails bythe lugs.

5. In combination, 'a' conveyor'fo'r conveying 'flat articles having lugs on twoopposite'edges thereof, stationary take-out rails, a receiving conveyorin line with said take-out rails, stakeout member for delivering articles from the first named conveyor to the rails with the lugs of the articles resting on the rails andwith the'body portions of the articlessusp'ended between the railsymeans for moving the'articles along the rails, and means'controlled by the movement of the'ar'ticles'along said first named conveyor for intermittently actuating the take-"out n'ie'mb'er,

said moving means and said'receiving conveyor.

6; In a machine for handling articles with lugs at two corners thereof, a'pair of rails spaced apartmeans for intermittently and successively delivering the articles to said rails with'the lugs resting on the rails and With'the body portions extending in substantially'vert'ical' position between'the same, and means for moving the articles along the rails, s'aid moving means having partswhich engage the lugs of the article last delivered to the rails and the bodyportion of apart, {means for intermittently and successively delivering the articles to said rails with the lugs resting thereon and with the body portions extending in substantially vertical position between therails, and an intermittently movable reciprocatory pusher for moving the articles along the rails, said pusher having parts which during each forward motion of the pusher engage the corner lugs of the article last delivered to the rails and the body portion of the article beneath the" lugs.

' ALFRED R. 'WIILARD. 

